“AM I EVEN INDIAN?”: EXPLORING IDENTITIES AMONG INDIAN CATHOLICS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Multiracialism in Singapore refers to the ideology whereby all Singaporeans are categorized into one of the four simplified racial categories: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others. As such, every citizen has a hyphenated identity where race is reinforced and grounded in identity. However, one main flaw of multiracialism is the homogenization and essentialization of each racial group, whereby multiplicity within the categories and intra ethnic differences are ignored. Looking at the category ‘Indian’, it is hardly homogeneous as the model suggests. Rather, they are highly heterogeneous through divisions in origin, language and religion. Yet, they are all grouped as one category. Furthermore, the tendency to conflate race and religion results in the automatic assumption of Indians as Hindus. As such, the Indian Catholic community are a group of people who do not ‘fit’ nicely into the CMIO categories created by the state. In looking behind the essentialism imposed by the state, this thesis explores the everyday realities of Indian Catholics youths in Singapore and the construction of their ethnic and religious identity. In presenting that racial identities are not “natural” nor fixed identities that can be placed into neat categories, I explore the management of an ‘Indian Catholic dilemma’ which gives us an understanding as to how Indian Catholics situate and construct their Indian Catholic identity as a religious minority within an ethnic minority group.